When raising capital for your company, it’s necessary to describe the plans for your business in a manner that will compel a financier to fund you. Since fundraising pitches contain similar ingredients whether they’re delivered to angels, venture capitalists or bankers, the term investor is used herein to designate any financing source to whom a pitch is made.

When translating a written business plan to a spoken fundraising presentation, use presentation software (e.g., PowerPoint) unless you can memorize the material sufficiently. Here are the points to include. 1) Overview a) Name b) Elevator Pitch/UVP c) Status d) Stage of development e) Headcount f) Revenue level g) Current customers

2) Problem a) What is it? b) Who has it? c) How acute is it? d) Why does it persist?